Coastal districts brace for cyclone ‘Hamoon’; govt plans evacuation of 15 lakh people
UNB, Dhaka :
The government has taken necessary preparations to tackle the possible effects of severe cyclone ‘Hamoon’ that may cross the Bangladesh coast by Wednesday noon.
Shelter centers were opened and medical teams kept ready in the coastal areas. Besides, fire service, police, coast guard, navy and volunteers are put on standby for emergency response in Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali and Chattogram districts.
The government has ordered evacuation of 15 lakh people of 10 vulnerable coastal districts by 8 pm on Tuesday, State Minister for Disaster and Relief Management Dr Eanmur Rahman told reporters after a meeting on cyclone preparedness at the secretariat.
The 10 vulnerable districts are Patuakhali, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Barguna, Chattogram, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur and Chandpur.
Bangladesh Inland and Water Service Authority (BIWTA) on Tuesday suspended movement of all kinds of vessels in Barishal division.
In Khulna, the local administration has opened 604 cyclone shelters to accommodate 3.15 lakh people while nearly 5,000 volunteers are ready to tackle the possible effects the cyclone, said Khandker Yeasir Arefin, deputy commissioner of Khulna while speaking at a virtual meeting held in the morning.
All officers and field-level officers were asked to remain in their respective workplaces.
Healthcare services, police, navy, coast guards and fire service men were asked to remain standby.
In Bagerhat, at least 446 cyclone shelters have been opened in the coastal areas of the district, said deputy commissioner Khalid Hossain.
The local administration has opened 10 control rooms to keep people alert.
Mongla port authorities were asked to remain alert about the possible effect of the cyclone ‘Hamoon’.
A total of 650 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 9 lakh cash have been allocated.
Masum Billah, Engineer of Bagerhat District Water Development Board, said 24 kolometres of a flood control embankment is vulnerable condition.
The authorities concerned are dumping sand bags there to protect the area.
In Barishal, at least 541 cyclone shelters have been prepared to accommodate people in the coastal areas while 61 medical teams are ready to provide medical services, said Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam while speaking at an emergency meeting held at his office today.
About 322 metric tonnes of rice have been kept ready while 770 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 9.36 lakh cash were allocated for the cyclone-hit areas.
Meanwhile, volunteers from Bangladesh Water Development Board, Fire Service, Red Crescent and other volunteer organisations are ready to deal with the situation.
The local administration also asked the fishermen to take safe shelter through loudspeakers and the launches were asked to anchor in a safe position.
In Chattogram, the local administration has opened 290 medical teams to tackle the possible effect of the cyclone Hamoon, said Chattogram District Civil Surgeon.
According to the civil surgeon office, a special control room has been opened for providing information before and after the cyclone which will remain open for 24 hours.
Besides, people can make emergency calls at 999 national emergency numbers for any kind of emergency, said Sujon Barua, supervisor of the Civil Surgeon office.
In Barguna, a total of 642 cyclone shelters have been opened.
Besides, 50 medical teams were formed, said deputy commissioner Rafiqul Islam.
The leave of all government officials have been cancelled and all have been asked to remain close to their respective work stations.
Some 9,615 volunteers are ready while Tk 6.50 lakh cash, 430 metric tonnes of rice, 96 bundles of corrugated iron sheets and 2000 blankets were kept ready.
About 3.5 kilometres area of the flood protection dyke is at vulnerable condition in the town, creating panic among local people.
In Patuakhali, the district administration held a meeting to tackle the possible effects of cyclone ‘Hamoon’.
So far, 703 shelters, 35 Mujib killas, about 9,000 volunteers, Tk 10 lakh and 600 metric tons of food grains have been prepared to face the cyclone.
The deep depression over west-central Bay and adjoining area has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’.
According to a special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the severe cyclonic storm ‘Hamoon’ now lies over northwest Bay and adjoining area and was centered at noon about 330 km west-southwest of Chattogram port, 295 km west-southwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 250 km southwest of Mongla port, and 215 km southwest of Payra port.
It is likely to move north-northeastwartds and may cross Barishal-Chattogram coast near Meghan estuary by late night to morning as a cyclonic storm, it reads.
Maritime ports of Payra and Chattogram have been advised to hoist danger signal number 7, the maritime port of Cox’s Bazar has been advised to hoist danger signal 6 while the maritime port of Mongla has been advised to hoist danger signal 5.